French bishop opens sainthood cause for founder of Tyburn Nuns

A French bishop has opened the cause for canonisation of a nun who claimed she saw a consecrated host turn to bloody flesh in the hands of a priest.

Bishop Joseph de Metz-Noblat of Langres, France, initiated the sainthood cause of Mother Marie Adele Garnier, foundress of the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Montmartre OSB, or Tyburn Nuns, with a December 3 Mass. Afterward, diocesan officials signed an edict with Vatican officials, who travelled from Rome to the event at the nuns’ convent in Saint Loup-sur-Aujon.

In his homily, the bishop noted that Mother Garnier, foundress of the order of contemplative Benedictines, sought the will of God through adoration of the Eucharist. This, he said, led to authentic acts of charity and served as a model of evangelisation.

“As we rejoice with Mother Garnier, we want to point at her insistence of the contemplation of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist,” said Bishop de Metz-Noblat.

He added: “With the help of the sisters, we want the evangelisation of our country but also the evangelisation of all the world.”

Mother Garnier died in Tyburn Convent, London, in 1924. Since the 1950s, her order has spread around the world with new houses founded in France, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.

Mother Xavier McMonagle, the assistant mother general, told Catholic News Service that the nuns have been sent thousands of letters of gratitude for divine favours at the foundress’s intercession and often receive requests from bishops to open new religious houses in dioceses all over the world.

Mother Marilla Aw, the Australian-born mother general, added that the nuns were overjoyed that the cause had finally opened.

“It was very exciting to see that happen,” she said. “It is a total celebration. It was such a surreal experience watching them (the officials) sign that document.”